Carlisle Police Sgt. David Miller, right, is joined by members of Pennsylvania State Police, Carlisle Police Chief Taro Landis, Cumberland County District Attorney David Freed and Cumberland County First Assistant District Attorney Jaime Keating during a news conference in November 2017, announcing charges in the shooting death of Rhyhiem Hodge.

Police, county use rapid DNA system to confirm suspect in Carlisle homicide

Christopher Jaquell Williams is escorted to District Court for an arraignment.

Provided by Kirk Wilson

Carlisle Police Sgt. David Miller, right, is joined by members of Pennsylvania State Police, Carlisle Police Chief Taro Landis, Cumberland County District Attorney David Freed and Cumberland County First Assistant District Attorney Jaime Keating during a news conference in November 2017, announcing charges in the shooting death of Rhyhiem Hodge.

Police are crediting the cooperation of citizens, law enforcement and aid from new technology in catching the man they say shot and killed 35-year-old Rhyhiem Hodge Sunday during a robbery in Carlisle.

Christopher Jaquell Williams, 25, of Harrisburg, is charged with felony criminal homicide, robbery, possession of firearm by a prohibited person, two counts of felony aggravated assault, misdemeanor reckless endangerment and unlawful restraint. He is in Cumberland County Prison and bail has been denied.

“We hope as a police department that this in some way helps the Hodge family,” Carlisle Police Sgt. David Miller said Tuesday during a news conference announcing the charges. “We hope that this arrest helps to allow them to have a little bit of closure or a step towards closure in this horrific event.”

According to the affidavit of probable cause, Williams went to the home in the 200 block of West North Street Sunday afternoon and attempted to purchase marijuana. A witness told police she was taken hostage by Williams, who placed a gun to her head and demanded money. He then shot Hodge.

Court documents say Hodge had gunshot wounds to his hip, ear and head. Shell casings were found in the kitchen where Hodge was killed, and a kitchen knife was found covered in the blood near Hodge.

Court documents said there were four children in the house at the time of the shooting. A large bag of individually wrapped, suspected marijuana was found in the dining room.

Cumberland County District Attorney David Freed said the attempted drug deal was likely a pretext for Williams to gain entry into the home.

“There may have been a pretext to buy marijuana, but everything else screams out robbery,” Freed said. “It’s about money, not about drugs.”

Williams fled out the rear door of the home. About 45 minutes after the incident, he entered the UPMC Pinnacle Harrisburg emergency room with a severe stab wound to his thigh, which had caused extensive bleeding. The affidavit says blood was found on the rear sidewalk to the parking lot on the east side of the Carlisle apartment building.

Police collected Williams’ clothing, which matched the description from witnesses who saw a man flee the scene after the shooting, according to the affidavit. Blood samples were also collected from the scene and compared to DNA taken from Williams’ blood soaked sock. Court documents say the DNA profiles were consistent with each other.

Freed said this case was the first time the county has used a new rapid DNA system, which allows for quick DNA comparisons.

Cumberland County is the only jurisdiction in Pennsylvania to own a rapid DNA system, Freed said.

The blood samples collected at the scene, as well as the samples collected from Williams’ clothes, will be sent for a full comparison to bolster the case for trial, he said.

“For the citizens who will hear me, what I will tell you is that if you commit a crime in Carlisle borough or Cumberland County, we will find you,” Carlisle Police Chief Taro Landis said.

Landis called on the public to help fill in information about Hodge’s death and implored assistance with helping police solve crimes as they occur in the borough.

“The police cannot be everywhere,” Landis said. “We need your assistance on not only this horrific crime, but on incidents that happen throughout the borough and throughout Cumberland County. The police need your help.

“I’m asking you to come forward and think about it as if one of your loved ones were hurt,” he said. “We want you to help us out.”

Williams had been convicted of robbery in March 2009, and the felony conviction meant he was prohibited to possess a firearm. He recently completed a sentence for felony possession with intent to deliver, as well as other drug charges in Dauphin County, according to court records.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, Williams went to the home in the 200 block of West North Street Sunday afternoon and attempted to purchase marijuana. A witness told police she was taken hostage by Williams, who placed a gun to her head and demanded money. He then shot Hodge.

Court documents say Hodge had gunshot wounds to his hip, ear and head. Shell casings were found in the kitchen where Hodge was killed, and a kitchen knife was found covered in blood near Hodge.

Court documents said there were four children in the house at the time of the shooting. A large bag of individually wrapped, suspected marijuana was found in the dining room.

Williams fled out the rear door of the home. About 45 minutes after the incident, he entered the UPMC Pinnacle Harrisburg emergency room with a severe stab wound to his thigh, which had caused extensive bleeding. The affidavit said blood was found on the rear sidewalk to the parking lot on the east side of the apartment building.

Police collected Williams’ clothing, which matched the description from witnesses who saw a man flee the scene after the shooting, according to the affidavit. Blood samples were also collected from the scene and compared to DNA taken from Williams’ blood soaked sock. Court documents say the DNA profiles were consistent with each other.

Williams had been convicted of robbery in March 2009, and the felony conviction meant he was prohibited to possess a firearm. He recently completed a sentence for felony possession with intent to deliver, as well as other drug charges in Dauphin County, according to court records.

Posted earlier on Cumberlink:

A Harrisburg man faces charges in the fatal shooting that occurred Sunday in Carlisle, according to court documents.

Christopher Jaquell Williams, 25, of Harrisburg, is charged with felony criminal homicide, robbery, possession of firearm by a prohibited person, two counts of felony aggravated assault, misdemeanor reckless endangerment and unlawful restraint for the shooting death of 35-year-old Rhyhiem Hodge.

A witness stated Williams entered the home in an attempt to purchase marijuana when he pulled a gun, demanded money and shot Hodge, the affidavit said.

Hodge was found deceased at the scene of apparent gunshot wounds, police said.

Williams is a convicted felon who recently completed a sentence for felony possession with intent to deliver, as well as other drug charges in Dauphin County, according to court records.

Posted earlier on Cumberlink:

Cumberland County District Attorney David Freed announced that he and the Carlisle Police Department will hold a news conference this afternoon at the police station regarding a “development” in the Carlisle homicide.

Rhyhiem Hodge, 35, of Carlisle, was killed Sunday afternoon in a home at the corner of West North and North College streets. Police had not made any immediate arrests Sunday or Monday.

Police believe Hodge died of gunshot wounds, and noted during a news conference Sunday that at least one shot was fired outside the building shortly after the murder.

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